Local News
TTMA Eyes Trade With Venezuela
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) is seeking to expand trade and investment opportunities with Venezuela, including access to raw materials, export markets and potential investments in the South American country.
A Shareholder Takes Share Dispute To Court
A Prestige Holdings Ltd minority shareholder has formally rejected Agostini Ltd’s offer of $12.15 per share for his remaining holdings in the restaurant management company, electing instead to have the High Court determine their fair value.
Medcorp Limited – Unaudited Interim Financial Statements For The Nine Months Ended 30th September, 2026.
Medcorp delivered strong nine-month results, with revenue up 9.7% and profit before tax up 34.7%, driven by sustained demand for its medical services, improved profitability, growing cash reserves, and a stronger balance sheet.
McGuire: Do Not Expect Gas Boom In 2027
Energy economist Gregory McGuire has warned that talk of an impending
energy boom in Trinidad and Tobago is premature, arguing that new oil and
gas projects will largely replace declining production rather than deliver significant growth.
WASA Pays Portion Of $75M Debt Owed To Security Firms
Days after the Trinidad and Tobago Private Security Association (TTPSA)
appealed to the Government to settle $75 million in outstanding payments to member companies, the association says it has received a partial payment from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) but maintains that the amount falls far short of what is owed.
Trade Unions To Stage Major Protest March In PoS Today
The labour movement will go on with its major protest march in Port-of-Spain today, despite several requests from senior police officers to postpone it despite having sought approval from the Police Commissioner well in advance.
T&T Petroleum Exports To US Reach Highest Level Since 3Q 2021
US imports of crude oil and petroleum products from Trinidad and Tobago rose to an average 52,500 barrels per day (b/d) in the second quarter of 2026, the highest quarterly rate since the third quarter of 2021.
Manufacturers Planning Mission To Venezuela
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) is exploring opportunities to expand trade and investment between T&T and Venezuela, following discussions with a delegation from Sucre State, Venezuela, who visited the country for trade-related engagements and left yesterday.
NH Airport Contract Opens Opportunities For T&T Manufacturers
Trinidad and Tobago manufacturers and service providers stand to benefit from NH International Caribbean Ltd’s EC$666 million (US$243 million) contract to redevelop St Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport, with opportunities spanning construction materials, electrical products, plumbing, air conditioning and specialist subcontracting.
Regional News
Caricom States Urged To Invest In Renewable Energy
Caricom Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett is urging member states to accelerate investment in renewable energy and resilient infrastructure to reduce dependence on imported fuels and strengthen regional energy security.
Antigua PM Comes To The Defence
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda will continue to engage the United States and European Union in efforts to resolve concerns surrounding its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), warning that mounting international pressures threaten the country’s economic interests and the mobility of its citizens.
President Ali Pitches One Brand For Biodiversity Reserves Across Alliance Countries
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has called on private sector leaders in Global Biodiversity Alliance countries to develop a shared brand for biodiversity reserves, pitching conservation as an opportunity for investment as well as protection.
Guyana Seeking To Attract Investments In Biodiversity Conservation
Guyana’s push to expand financing for biodiversity conservation is entering a new phase, with the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) seeking to bring governments, financial institutions, academia and private-sector partners together to turn environmental protection into funding and opportunities that benefit people and communities.
Symmonds: Poor Business Standards Threaten Competitiveness
Poor business standards risk damaging Barbados’ reputation and limiting its ability to compete internationally, Business Development Minister Kerrie Symmonds has warned, calling for stronger regulation and greater attention to safety and service quality.
CariCRIS Assigns A Rating To Jamaica
CariCRIS has assigned an investment-grade credit ratings to the Government of Jamaica, with a stable outlook, citing the country’s fiscal commitments, debt-reduction strategy and continued financial sector stability despite the economic impact of Hurricane Melissa.
Foreign Reserves Dip In Third Quarter But Stay ‘Well Above’ Benchmark
Briefing journalists on the bank’s third-quarter report, governor Dr Kevin Greenidge said real gross domestic product (GDP) had grown by an estimated 1.4 per cent, compared with 2.3 per cent over the same period in 2025.
Bids Invited For Supervision Of Demerara Shipping Channel Beacon Project
The Ministry of Public Utilities, through its Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), has invited bids for consultancy services to supervise the construction of concrete leading beacons, alongside vessel traffic service and port security systems, for the Demerara Main Ships Channel.
Sagicor Shareholders Approve Caribbean Reorganisation
Shareholders of Sagicor Group Jamaica Ltd yesterday approved its Scheme of Arrangement and all resolutions related to its Caribbean reorganisation.
International News
Anthropic Seeks Up To $3.5 Billion In Japan For Its Mega US IPO
Anthropic PBC aims to raise up to $3.5 billion from Japanese investors in its initial public offering in the US, bringing the landmark share sale by the artificial-intelligence startup to a market starved of first-time offerings.
Wall Street Braces For Biggest Treasury Sales Overhaul In Years
After Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent surprised dealers with his willingness to intervene in the bond market to drive down yields in recent months, Wall Street is now girding for the biggest revamp in guidance for US Treasuries issuance since early 2024.
Oil Drops Over 4% On Hopes Of Progress In Talks On Ending US-Iran War
Oil fell more than 4% on Monday as talks between Iranian and Qatari officials on a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran raised hopes that Middle East supply disruptions could ease.
US Stock Futures Rise As Oil Drop Buoys Sentiment
US equity futures advanced to halt a bruising selloff in the artificial intelligence trade, with falling oil prices helping stocks to start the month on a positive note.
BP Profit Hits 18-Year High As Oil Refining Margins Surge
BP Plc (BP) said profit surged to the highest in 18 years as soaring refining margins boosted earnings, giving Chief Executive Officer Meg O’Neill a powerful tailwind as she seeks to turn around the beleaguered British energy major.
Oil Set For Fourth Monthly Gain As Hormuz Tanker Attack Highlights Supply Risks
Oil prices rose on Friday and were on track for a fourth monthly gain as traders braced for a potential escalation in the US-Iran conflict after US midterm elections, with an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz highlighting supply risks from the war.
Q3 Earnings Miss Sends Stock Lower
Amazon (AMZN) reported third quarter results Thursday, missing on the top and bottom lines, sending the stock falling. Amazon says Q4 net sales will come in between $240 billion and $247 billion versus expectations of $244.5 billion
Tech Rout Deepens As Earnings Stoke AI Reckoning
US stock futures fell for a second day as another batch of disappointing tech earnings intensified the sellof in the sector, with investors increasingly questioning the payoff from massive artificial intelligence spending as signs emerge that the core businesses of America’s technology giants are losing momentum. Crude oil gained.
Caterpillar Tops Estimates as AI Power Demand Fuels Growth
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) posted quarterly earnings that beat Wall Street expectations as soaring electricity needs from artificial intelligence data centers continued to drive demand for the company’s power-generation equipment.
Reports
Portfolio Snapshot: Q3 2026
Market conditions shifted during Q3 2026 as geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns resurfaced alongside higher energy prices. Despite these pressures, U.S. equities were mostly positive during the quarter, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite gaining, while the Dow declined. Reflecting the mixed backdrop, performance increasingly diverged across sectors, largely influenced by sustained strength in oil markets, evolving rate expectations and sector-specific drivers.
Local Fixed Income Report: Q3 2026
Local Equity Report: Q3 2026
US Rate Watch SEPT2026
On September 16, 2026, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the federal funds target range by 25 basis points to 3.75% – 4.00%. This decision was aligned with the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of achieving maximum employment and price stability.
Sheppard Joins the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange as Member Broker-Dealer
Sheppard Investment Services Limited has been admitted as a licensed member Broker-Dealer of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE), further strengthening Sheppard’s presence and capabilities within the Eastern Caribbean financial market. Based in Saint Lucia, Sheppard will now operate as one of nine licensed ECSE member Broker-Dealers serving the Eastern Caribbean Securities Market. As an ECSE Member Broker-Dealer, Sheppard is authorised to facilitate the purchase and sale of securities listed on the ECSE, providing clients with greater access to investment opportunities across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). The admission represents an important step in Sheppard’s continued regional growth and its commitment to expanding access to professional investment services and financial solutions throughout the Caribbean. In announcing the ECSE’s newest members, Stewart Haynes, Chief Executive Officer of the ECSE, welcomed Sheppard to the exchange, noting that the addition of new market intermediaries strengthens the ECSE’s distribution network and supports its goal of creating a more accessible, inclusive and resilient regional capital market. The ECSE plays a central role in the development of the Eastern Caribbean capital market, providing a regulated marketplace through which investors can access securities while businesses and governments can raise capital to support growth and development. For Sheppard, membership in the ECSE creates further opportunities to connect clients with regional investment markets while supporting the continued development of the Caribbean’s financial sector. About Sheppard Investment Services Limited Sheppard Investment Services Limited provides investment and wealth management solutions to clients located in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean, supported by the experience and capabilities of the Sheppard Group.
Economic Outlook – AUG 2026
Global growth is expected to remain moderate but uneven across regions in 2026 as geopolitical tensions, elevated uncertainty, and tighter financial conditions weigh on activity. Trade and investment activity are also likely to remain subdued amid continued volatility and uncertainty, with economies benefitting from technology investment and those exposed to energy shocks the most impacted. Inflation is expected to remain above target for longer in many economies as higher energy and commodity prices have stalled the disinflation process. Further to this, renewed U.S.-Iran tensions have increased upside risks to inflation and downside growth risks, although continued investment and a normalization in trade activity could provide some support. We remain attentive to developments that could affect the balance of risks to the outlook.
Earnings Update – AUG 2026
August earnings remained mixed across sectors amid ongoing operational and economic challenges. Among the banking and financials First Citizens Group Financial Holdings (FCGFH) and NCB Financial Group (NCBFG) underperformed relative to their peers, reporting declines in profit for the period. First Citizens’ results were weighed down by rising funding costs, tightening liquidity conditions and the commercial asset levy, despite resilience in its core operations, while NCB’s earnings were impacted by lower gains on foreign currency and investment activities as well as the absence of one-off gains recorded the year prior. ANSA Merchant Bank Limited (AMBL), meanwhile, recorded double digit growth in profit, with pre-tax income rising 32%, driven primarily by growth in the Banking and Wealth Management segment. JMMB Group Limited’s (JMMBGL) earnings were also lifted, having benefitted from an increased share of profit from associates, namely Sagicor Financial Company.
Local Fixed Income Report – July 2026
The fixed income market in H1 2026 was characterized by shifting yield curve dynamics, resilient investor demand, and muted primary market activity. Government, quasi-government and corporate issuance remained concentrated in a relatively small number of transactions, while lower system liquidity contributed to higher yields across the curve year-on-year. Excess reserves declined to TT$4.25 billion from TT$5.33 billion at the start of the year, reflecting tighter liquidity conditions.
Local Equity Report – July 2026